Innovative Ideas on How to Get Your Building Ready for Cyclone Season

Love living in the sunny tropics? Well, while the beauty of basking in all that sun, sand and surf may seem so spell-binding, there is actually one natural occurrence that may deter you from living in the hot, sunny side of the world – Cyclones! (or hurricanes in the US). In certain areas of Australia, the sizzling summer season also brings with it wild, drenching cyclones (of which an average of 10 cyclones develop off the Aussie coast each year). So, if you are a homeowner (or you own a commercial building), what's the best way to protect it from cyclones? Read on to find out a couple of innovative ideas.

Preparation is of the Essence

Cyclones can definitely have a disastrously devastating effect on homes and commercial buildings. Thus, homeowners and builders  need to prepare in advance, if only to reduce or mitigate the damage to their precious property.

And although you do get some warning before a cyclone hits your city or state, the best thing to do is plan ahead, so that you'll know where to run and hide, and you'll know what to do in terms of repairing the damage and recovering from the cyclone.

Helpful Hints on How to Strengthen & Protect Your Home or Building From Cyclones

According to seasoned home and commercial builders, while there's nothing you can do to temper the strength of a cyclone, there are couple of things that you can do to help your home or building withstand the ferocity of the storm.

For starters, you could start with clearing out the gutters, making sure that timber window frames and fascias are in wonderful condition, and see that the roofing is currently is in good condition. Newly-attached roofs need to be tied down using metal straps and fully attached to the house's frame.

Cyclone washers are also a must in cyclone-prone areas, because these offer better surface area to prevent the screw's head from popping out, and they can be retrofitted too. So, before a cyclone hits your area, get a repairman to check your roof and change the regular washers to cyclone -ready washers.

If your home or building has furniture outdoors, it would be best to take them indoors it's likely that the cyclone's ferocious winds may carry it elsewhere. If there are large trees close to your structure, make sure you cut off any large (or dead) branches, as these could easily be removed by strong winds.

Make sure you fix or strengthen any fencing that requires some degree of maintenance, because high winds and rampaging water could bring it down so easily. And, as water levels can easily rise during cyclones, get sandbags ready and place them in strategic areas of the structure like the driveways and doors, to prevent water from seeping in. A sump pump can also be a good thing to have, especially if your home or building has a basement.

And of course, once the storm passes, majority of  today's residential builders also suggest that home and building owners have a recovery plan or scheme in place, so that they can easily rebuild their structures, and know where to ask for federal or state aid.